Video: '17 juin 1940 - Maréchal Pétain - "Je fais à la France le don de ma personne" - Armistice'

(Sunday, June 16, 1940; during the Battle of France, part of the Western Front of the World War II) — With Nazi Germany on the brink of crushing France, 84-year-old Marshal Philippe Pétain became Prime Minister of France tonight after Paul Reynaud resigned. Continue reading Reynaud resigns, Petain takes over as new cabinet considers fate of France 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 16 1940) →

Video: 'German Invasion of Paris 32610e HD'

(Friday, June 14, 1940, 5:30 a.m. West European Summer Time; during the Battle of France, part of the Western Front of World War II) — German troops marched unopposed into Paris today. Continue reading German war machine occupies Paris unopposed 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 14 1940) →

Video: 'Britain Votes to Leave - WW2 - 042 - June 15 1940' (June 10, 1940, at 0:50)

(Monday, June 10, 1940, 6:00 p.m. Central European Time; during the Italian Invasion of France, part of the Battle of France, part of the Western Front of the World War II) — With the fall of France imminent, Premier Benito Mussolini appeared tonight on the balcony of the Palazzo Venezia to announce that in six hours, Italy would be in a state of war with France and Britain. Continue reading Italian Premier Benito Mussolini declares war on France, Britain 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 10 1940) →

Video: 'The World At War 1973(World War II Documentary) 03.France Falls (May – June 1940)' (June 10, 1940, at 46:00)

(Monday, June 10, 1940; during the Battle of France, part of the Western Front of the World War II) — As troops from Nazi Germany approached the “City of Light” from the north and west, the French government fled Paris today, first to Tours and then to Bordeaux. Continue reading French government flees Paris ahead of approaching Nazi Germany forces 80 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 10 1940) →

Video: 'Will Britain Remain?! - WW2 - 041 - June 8 1940' (June 5, 1940, at 6:17)

(Wednesday, June 5, 1940, 4:00 a.m. Western European Summer Time; during the Battle of France, part of Western Front of the World War II) — The Germans began the second phase of the invasion of France, codenamed Fall Rot (Case Red), launching an offensive on a front of 120 miles from the Channel coast to Laonby across the Somme and Aisne rivers this morning with 130 divisions plus 10 Panzer divisions reequipped with fresh tanks. Continue reading Nazis attack French on a 120-mile front toward Paris 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1940) →

Video: 'We Shall Fight On The Beaches'

(Tuesday, June 4, 1940, 3:40 p.m. British Summer Time; following the Dunkirk evacuation, part of Battle of France on the Western Front of World War II) — Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivered his moving and dramatic “We shall fight on the beaches” speech to the British House of Commons this afternoon, declaring that even if the motherland had to fight alone against the German military machine, the British fleet and empire would fight on to the bitter end. Continue reading ‘We shall fight on the beaches’ Churchill declares following ‘Miracle of Dunkirk’ 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 4 1940) →

Video: 'Will Britain Remain?! - WW2 - 041 - June 8 1940' (June 3-4, 1940, at 1:37)

(Tuesday, June 4, 1940, 3:40 a.m. Western European Summer Time; during the Dunkirk evacuation, part of Battle of France on the Western Front of World War II) — The Dunkirk evacuation, the rescue of 338,226 Allied soldiers during World War II from the beaches and harbor of Dunkirk, in the north of France, by a hastily assembled fleet of over 800 vessels, ended early this morning when the destroyer HMS Shikari departed for Dover with German infantry firing only a few streets away from where she was moored. Continue reading Evacuation of 338,226 Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, completed 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 4 1940) →

Video: 'The First Brexit? - The Dunkirk Evacuation - WW2 - 040 - June 1 1940' (Belgium surrenders at 1:18)

(Tuesday, May 28, 1940, 4:00 a.m. Western European Summer Time; during the Battle of Belgium, part of Battle of France, part of the Western Front of the World War II) — Leopold III, king and commander in chief of the Belgian army, surrendered personally to German forces today, contrary to the advice of his government, led by Hubert Pierlot, having personally decided that the Allied cause was lost. Continue reading King Leopold III orders Belgian Army to unconditionally surrender to Nazi Germany 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 28 1940) →

Video: 'The First Brexit? - The Dunkirk Evacuation - WW2 - 040 - June 1 1940' (May 26, 1940, at 3:32)

(Sunday, May 26, 1940, just before 7:00 p.m. BST; during the Dunkirk evacuation part of Battle of France, part of the Western Front of the World War II) –British Prime Minister Winston Churchill tonight ordered Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of some 338,000 Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, to begin. Continue reading Evacuation of 338,226 Allied troops from Dunkirk, France, begins 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 26 1940) →